Post on 19-Jul-2015
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MECC International Board of Advisors The Middle East Commercial Center (MECC) International Advisory Board provides external perspective, guidance, and
support to the Center and its work promoting greater intra-regional trade and investment in the Middle East. The Board is
composed of internationally renowned executives from global companies, former high-ranking government officials, and
other policy experts from around the world. The Board will oversee MECC’s policy formation and project development.
Omar A. Bahlaiwa (Saudi Arabia) – Secretary General,
Committee for International Trade of Saudi Arabia
Charlene Barshefsky (USA) – Former USTR and
Senior International Partner, WilmerHale
Alaa Batayneh (Jordan) - Founding Partner, Alarif
Consultancy
Myron Brilliant (USA) – Executive Vice President,
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Hasan Çakırmelikoğlu (Turkey) – Founder, Freşa Company
Mohamed El-Sewedy (Egypt) – Chairman, Federation
of Egyptian Industries
Yavuz Eroğlu (Turkey) – Chairman and General
Manager, SEM Plastics
Dan Gillerman (Israel) - Former Representative to the UN
and Senior Advisor, Blackstone Israel
Rıfat Hisarcıklıoğlu (Turkey) – President, Union of
Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey
Robert Hormats (USA) – Vice Chairman, Kissinger
Associates
Karim Kawar (Jordan) – Former Jordanian Ambassador to
the U.S. and President, Kawar Group
Samer Khoury (Palestine) – President, Consolidated
Contractors Company
Tom Nides (USA) – Vice Chair, Morgan Stanley
Bashar Masri (Palestine) – Chairman, Massar International
Amr Moussa (Egypt) – Former Secretary-General of the Arab
League and Former Minister of Foreign Affairs
Chemi Peres (Israel) – Chairman, Pitango Venture Capital
Wolfgang Pordzik (USA) – Executive Vice President, DHL
David Ross (USA) – Senior Vice President of Middle East
Operations, FedEx Express
A vision for a new framework in the region
The Middle East Commercial Center (MECC) is a newly established private
sector-led alliance of business leaders across the region that are working together
to promote greater intra-regional trade and investment and collectively address the
most critical economic challenges and opportunities of our day.
MECC’s Goals
1. Advancing projects and promoting public policies that contribute to greater regional economic integration.
2. Serving as a bridge for companies and associations across the region connect with one another.
3. Creating a platform to expand opportunity for foreign investment in the region.
A unique alliance
The MECC, in conjunction with the Chamber’s global network and affiliates,
convenes a wide range of participants:
National Chambers of Commerce
Industry Associations
Entrepreneurs Corporate Executives
American Chambers Abroad
Business and Trade Organizations
MECC Governments Multilateral Organizations
Private and public stakeholders in MECC
MECC’s network continues to grow; key stakeholders include:
80+ business and trade organizations, national chambers of commerce, and AmChams from 20 countries in the region, the United States, and Europe.
Major international companies, investors, and entrepreneurs.
Strong support from top-level U.S. Government, including Departments of State, Commerce, and Treasury, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Trade Representative, and the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
Multi-lateral organizations including the World Bank, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Commitment to common principles and joint activity At MECC’s spring meeting in Jordan, over 350 people from 17 countries agreed to a significant joint statement of principles, committing to:
• Work together to promote regional economic growth and remove
existing barriers to commerce.
• Making a difference in the lives of the people in the Middle East
and to fostering stronger commercial ties between our economies.
• Creating “a coalition of action” to advance projects and promote
public policies that contribute to more regional economic
integration and greater opportunity for foreign investment in the
region.
• Informing and educating our respective governments in ways that
can contribute and support intra-regional trade and foster private
sector growth.
Participating organizations U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey
(TOBB)
AmCham Jordan
U.S.-Egypt Business Council
Amman Chamber of Commerce
Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce
Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce
U.S.-Turkey Business Council
American Business Association - Eastern
Provinces / Saudi Arabia
American Business Council of Dubai & the Northern Emirates
Alexandria Chamber of Commerce
AmCham Egypt
AmCham Turkey / American Business
Forum in Turkey (ABFT)
Turkish American Business Association (TABA)
Amman Center for Peace and Development
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Nazareth
Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK)
AmCham Palestine
Jordan Exporters Association
Israel-America Chamber of Commerce
Egypt-U.S. Business Council
International Chamber of Commerce - Israel
International Chamber of Commerce - Palestine
International Federation of Freight
Forwarders Associations
Israel-Palestinian Chamber of Commerce
Manufacturers Association of Israel
Oasis500
AmCham Abu Dhabi
MENA Apps
Endeavor Global
Wamda
AmCham Bahrain
AmCham Lebanon
The Portland Trust
International Road Transport Union (IRU)
Palestine Trade Center (PALTRADE)
Palestinian Information Technology Association
of Companies (PITA)
Palestine International Business Forum
Ready Made Garments Export Council
Turkish Contractors Association
Economic Policy Research Foundation of
Turkey (TEPAV)
AmCham Qatar
Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)
The Peres Center for Peace
Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce
Young Entrepreneurs - Palestine
Binational Industrial Research and Development
Foundation (BIRD)
Syrian Business Forum
Jordan Hotel Association
Sadara Ventures
Turkish Textile Employers Association (TTEA)
AmCham in Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce
International Council for Swedish Industry
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Business Council
American Business Group of Riyadh
Bethlehem Multidisciplinary Industrial Park
Palestinian Shippers Council
Technology Development Foundation of Turkey (TTGV)
AlBawader
The Arab Union of Land Transport
Economic Cooperation Foundation
The German Marshall Fund of the United States
GOSB Teknopark
Haama Group
Kawar Group
Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
MENA Rail
Müsiad
Palestine Investment Fund
Flat6 Labs
Sawari Ventures
212 Ltd.
Massar International
Information and Communications Technology
Association of Jordan
Qotuf Al Riyadah Co.
Silicon Badia
Cairo Angels
CyberPark Ankara
AmCham Oman
American Business Council – Kuwait
OurCrowd
Aqaba International Industrial Estate
Sena Group
MECC compels action on policy and projects
MECC convenes key
stakeholders to compel a
collaborative approach to policy
advocacy to remove barriers to
economic activity and project
development to advance
cooperation and integration
across a range of sectors.
Pillars of Growth
Movement of People
Movement of Goods and Services
Project Development
Policy Advocacy
MECC’s Structure
Architecture of the MECC
National Steering Committees
• Committees serve as each country’s board of directors and drive the MECC’s overall activities and sector-specific work
Sector-Specific Task Forces
• Cross-regional groups of participants that bring expertise to bear on specific sectors and commercial issues
International Advisory Board
• Luminaries from the political or business world who lend their names and support to the MECC
The MECC organizational structure
Middle East Commercial Center
Task Forces
Movement of Goods and Services
Movement of People
Pillars of Growth
National Steering Committees
Function
• Represent and lead country’s business community in MECC.
• Drive national and multinational agenda of the MECC.
• Shape task force agenda and participation.
Form
• A dozen leaders of business organizations/companies.
• Led by two co-chairs.
• Designated staff to coordinate day-to-day activities with MECC.
Sector-specific task forces
Function
• Drive ongoing multi-national collaboration around key sectors.
• Develop action plans, deliverables, and recommendations to bring to the MECC.
• Identify policy recommendations and project ideas.
Form
• Multi-lateral group of technical experts for sector-specific discussions.
• Regular consultations outside MECC meetings.
• Designated organizational staff to manage day-to-day activities.
Areas of focus: policies and projects
• Trade routes, access, and policy
• Intellectual property
• Data flows
Movement of Goods and Services
• Education
• Entrepreneurship
• Customs and visas
• Women in business
Movement of People
• Natural resource cooperation
• Special economic zones
• Infrastructure
• Project finance
• Health care
• Tourism
Pillars of Growth
Key MECC projects underway
• Developing a “Middle East Trade Facilitation and Logistics Modernization Report” and joint policy advocacy to promote new trade corridors and access points in the region to move goods, in coordination with security and trade experts, government officials, and interested businesses.
Movement of Goods and Market Access
• Enhancing SEZ regimes though joint development-management efforts, creating mechanisms for knowledge sharing, enhancing vocational training, and identifying investment opportunities to connect and expand zones throughout the region.
Special Economic Zones
• Launching a new Middle East and North Africa Venture Network to enhancing connections between high tech entrepreneurs and investors across the region, Identifying and remove bureaucratic and legal obstacles to entrepreneurship, and promote investment in small business.
Entrepreneurship Development
• Promote greater women representation on boards of organizations and companies across the region through awareness and advocacy campaigns to affect the perception of women in leadership roles and by developing programs to empower women leaders.
Women in Business
• Promoting policy and project ideas to advance a strong energy future for the region, including development of natural gas, renewable energy technology cooperation, and water management solutions.
Natural Resource Cooperation
International Advisory Board
Function
• Offer strategic guidance and recommendations to the MECC and national steering committees.
• Provide diverse, senior-level perspective to the MECC.
Form
• Organized board of former senior government officials, CEOs, and top executives.
What is the strength of the MECC?
It leverages the infrastructure of existing business organizations.
It is driven by business interests not only corporate social responsibility.
It focuses on regionally-oriented on commercial issues.
It brings U.S. corporations and expertise to support policy and project work.
MECC Plan of Action and Timeline
Building a new regional architecture
Organize regional meetings with key stakeholders
Form national steering committees
Build sector-specific task forces
Organize architecture for MECC
Expanding capacity and reach
Organize regional conferences
Open MECC office(s) in the region
Commission commercial studies
Launch MECC projects
Ensuring growth and sustainability
Create Forum for Innovation in the Middle East
Create training and grants program
Build fund for entrepreneurs
December 2012-2013 May 2014 – May 2015 May 2015…